|
Taylor is as slick a technician as Utah has seen since Jason Chamberlain. He has exceptional skills and the mat sense that comes from being on the mat since the age of 4. I've coached against him since those first days, and was there to see two of the very few losses he had during his illustrious career. He's a gifted athlete with an excellent work ethic and a fine young man. On the mat, he has his go-to moves, then his second tier, then his third, all the way to who knows how deep. His wrestling tool box is as well developed as anyone I have ever seen. His older brother, Grant (another Utah great) no doubt helped toughen him up all his life, and been seasoned in the biggest and toughest tournaments in the country. There is just not enough that I can say about Taylor. He charged onto the high-school scene like a mongoose, quicker and faster than pretty much anyone he met, outslicking them, sometime enraging them, but never can I remember him losing his head while on the mat. That is the one thing that distinguishes him from Chamberlain in my mind is that he just makes it look so easy. Taylor took state as a freshman, finishing out his first state championship with a pin over Herriman star Jaron Jensen in the third round and an outstanding record of 53-3. This came after his first appearance in the All-Star Dual, where he pinned Altamont state Champion Brady Farnsworth in the second round. His sophomore year, he finished the season at 52-5 and pinned his way to the title. This came after his second appearance in the All-Star Dual, where he recorded one of his scant few losses to Cedar star Dusty Hone, losing a 3-2 decision that was as much chess match as wrestling. That same year, he finished third at the Reno Tournament of Champions, losing an overtime decision to William Olivas, who won the tournament. As a junior, he finished out 61-0, closing out state with a second-round fall over Mt. Crest's Trevor Lowe, after two more pins and a 12-4 decision in the semis over Gage Bradley of Wasatch. Prior to winning his third state title, he made an outstanding showing at his third appearance in the All-Star Dual, beating Union standout Kedric Coonis 8-3 and a second-round fall leading to his title at the Reno Tournament of Champions.
He broke the Utah all time most pins record in 2015 with 53 pins in a single season. As a senior, he finished out 53-0, closing out state with a major decison over Payson's Jed Loveless, after three pins to make it to the finals. Prior to winning his fourth state title, he made an outstanding showing at his fourth appearance in the All-Star Dual, pinning American Fork's Cameron Hunsaker in the second round. He has been recognized for the WIN Magainze Most Significant Wins Award for three consecutive years. He is the only U.S. athlete to make the Cadet World Team all three years he was eligible. Taylor is fascinating to watch as he looks for openings in his opponent's defenses or, if he doesn't find one, he's also more than happy to make his own, be it through a well thought out setup or a series of rapid-fire attacks. He's been at the top of the talent pool in Utah for his entire career (see below).
Taylor will soon join that vert short list of four-timer state champions and has already committed to wrestle at UVU with his brother, Grant.
2016 State
Champion (138 lbs.). 2015 State
Champion (126 lbs.). 2014 State
Champion (132 lbs.). 2013 State
Champion as a Freshman (113 lbs.). 2016–2016
Record: 53-0. 2014–2015
Record: 61-0. 2013–2014
Record: 52-5. 2012–2013
Record: 53-3. Interscholastic Career Record: 219-8
Following is a
summary of Taylor's wrestling career:
- Four-Time High School State Champion
- 2016 National Champion, USA Wrestling Junior National Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2016 Silver Medalist, USA Wrestling Junior National Championships, Freestyle
- 2016 National Champion, UWW Junior National Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2016 5th Place, UWW Junior National Championships, Freestyle
- 2016 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
- 2016 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2016 Champion, Rockwell Rumble, Folkstyle
- 2016 Champion, Reno Tournament of Champions, Folkstyle
- 2016 Champion, Division A Championships
- 2015 5th Place, Freestyle World Championships
- 2015 Bronze Medalist, Junior Pan-Am Games, Freestyle
- 2015 Champion, Cadet Pan-Am Games, Freestyle
- 2015 Champion, Cadet Pan-Am Games, Greco-Roman
- 2015 National Champion, USA Wrestling Junior National Championships, Freestyle
- 2015 Silver Medalist, USA Wrestling Junior National Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2015 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
- 2015 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2015 Junior Wrestler of the Year, UtahWrestling.org
- 2015 Outstanding Wrestler, 4A State Championships
- 2015 Champion, Division A Championships
- 2014 Champion, Reno Tournament of Champions, Folkstyle
- 2014 Champion, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships, Freestyle
- 2014 Champion, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships, Folkstyle
- 2014 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
- 2014 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2014 Sophomore Wrestler of the Year, UtahWrestling.org
- 2014 Silver Medalist, USA Wrestling Folkstyle National Championships
- 2014 Outstanding Wrestler, 4A State Championships
- 2014 Champion, Region VIII Championships
- 2013 National Champion, USA Wrestling Cadet National Championships, Freestyle
- 2013 7th Place, USA Wrestling Cadet National Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2013 Champion, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships, Freestyle
- 2013 Champion, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships, Folkstyle
- 2013 Bronze Medalist, Reno Tournament of Champions
- 2013 National Champion, USA Wrestling Folkstyle National Championships
- 2013 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
- 2013 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2013 Freshman Wrestler of the Year, UtahWrestling.org
- 2013 Outstanding Wrestler, 4A State Championships
- 2013 Champion, Region VIII Championships
- 2012 National Champion, USA Wrestling Kids National Championships, Freestyle
- 2012 National Champion, USA Wrestling Kids National Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2012 Champion, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships, Freestyle
- 2012 Champion, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships, Folkstyle
- 2012 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
- 2012 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2011 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling Kids National Championships, Freestyle
- 2011 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling Kids National Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2011 National Champion, NHSCA Middle School National Championships
- 2011 Silver Medalist, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships, Freestyle
- 2011 Champion, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships, Folkstyle
- 2011 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
- 2011 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2010 National Champion, USA Wrestling Kids National Championships, Freestyle
- 2010 National Champion, USA Wrestling Kids National Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2010 National Champion, NHSCA Elementary School National Championships
- 2010 Champion, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships, Freestyle
- 2010 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships, Folkstyle
- 2010 National Champion, Monster Match Nationals, Folkstyle
- 2010 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
- 2010 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2009 Bronze Medalist, USA Wrestling Kids National Championships, Freestyle
- 2009 5th Place, USA Wrestling Kids National Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2009 Silver Medalist, NHSCA Elementary School National Championships
- 2009 National Champion, Monster Match Nationals, Folkstyle
- 2009 Silver Medalist, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships, Folkstyle
- 2009 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
- 2009 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2009 Outstanding Wrestler, Mountain Top Classic Novice Division, Greco-Roman
- 2008 National Champion, AAU Grand Nationals, Freestyle
- 2008 National Champion, AAU Grand Nationals, Greco-Roman
- 2008 Silver Medalist, USA Wrestling Kids National Championships, Freestyle
- 2008 National Champion, USA Wrestling Kids National Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2008 Champion, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships, Freestyle
- 2008 Champion, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2008 Champion, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships, Folkstyle
- 2008 4th Place, Reno World Championships
- 2008 Silver Medalist, Monster Match Nationals
- 2008 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
- 2008 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2007 National Champion, AAU Grand Nationals, Freestyle
- 2007 National Champion, AAU Grand Nationals, Greco-Roman
- 2007 Champion, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships, Freestyle
- 2007 Champion, USA Wrestling West Regional Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2007 Silver Medalist, Reno World Championships
- 2007 State Champion, AAU Wrestling Utah State Championships, Freestyle
- 2007 State Champion, AAU Wrestling Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2007 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
- 2007 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Greco-Roman
- 2006 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
- 2006 National Champion, AAU Grand Nationals, Freestyle
- 2006 National Champion, AAU Grand Nationals, Greco-Roman
- 2006 Fastest Pin, Mountain Top Classic
- 2005 National Champion, AAU Grand Nationals, Freestyle
- 2005 National Champion, AAU Grand Nationals, Greco-Roman
- 2005 4th Place, Reno World Championships
- 2005 State Champion, USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, Freestyle
- 2005 Outstanding Wrestler, Mountain Top Classic Novice Division, Freestyle
Wrestling
USA Magazine Picks
Wrestling
USA Magazine Picks
Wrestling
USA Magazine Picks
UtahWrestling.org
2016 Freestyle/Greco-Roman Ranking
UtahWrestling.org
2015 Freestyle/Greco-Roman Ranking
UtahWrestling.org
2014 Freestyle/Greco-Roman Ranking
UtahWrestling.org
2013 Freestyle/Greco-Roman Ranking
UtahWrestling.org
2011 Freestyle/Greco-Roman Ranking
UtahWrestling.org
2010 Freestyle/Greco-Roman Ranking
UtahWrestling.org
2009 Freestyle/Greco-Roman Ranking
UtahWrestling.org
2008 Freestyle/Greco-Roman Ranking
UtahWrestling.org
2007 Freestyle/Greco-Roman Ranking
UtahWrestling.org
2006 Freestyle/Greco-Roman Ranking
UtahWrestling.org
2005 Freestyle/Greco-Roman Ranking
Taylor is also a concert pianist and plans to wrestle in the 2020 Olympics. |
